CDA’s International Business Development project is off to a strong start, with activities in Brazil, Peru and at ICOLD 2017 in Prague generating leads for new business for Canadian companies.

Supported by the Global Affairs Canada’s Global Opportunities for Associations (GOA), CDA has created opportunities for Canadian businesses in the dam industry to market their products and services.

Trade show booths were organized for a major dam conference in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in May 2017; and at the International Commission on Large Dams annual meeting in Prague, Czech Republic in July. 

Canadian industry representatives were part of an initiative to promote Canadian expertise in dam safety at an event in Lima, Peru in May. The Lima event included a networking event with 100 delegates from various countries in South America.

Companies who are interested in marketing their services can receive funding to help, through the GOA program. So far, five companies have been supported: Klohn Crippen Berger; SNC-Lavalin; KGS Group; Revelstoke Designs and ASI Group-Marine.

Reports on these events are available on the CDA IBD website.

Also, to support consulting companies share Canadian expertise, CDA arranged to translate a few of its guidance documents into Spanish and Portuguese.

To implement this project, CDA has created an International Business Development database. Companies that are interested in learning about opportunities as they arise should ensure that they are on the database. 

CDA is intending to re-apply to the GOA program for 2018-2019. If your company has ideas on how CDA can support the industry in developing business overseas, please contact Executive Director Don Butcher at ibd@cda.ca.